- April 18, 2024
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As a school counselor at iFlagler virtual school, Cami Brocksmith faces some barriers that other counselors don’t.
"As a school counselor, I believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and it is up to me to help them get there.”
— CAMI BROCKSMITH
Meeting with students online is different from meeting with them in person. Brocksmith has made the most of the online medium, holding group counseling sessions and individual check-ins through zoom and Google Voice.
Brocksmith knows the importance of relationships. "Growing up, I had severe asthma, and having educators that built a relationship with me it was important,” she wrote in an essay submitted as part of her Teacher of the Year application. “They showed they cared about me and would help if I missed school because I was sick. Now, being educator myself, I know firsthand the importance of student relationships. I know showing them that you care and will be there for them helps them succeed academically and emotionally. I still keep in touch with numerous students post graduation.”
Brocksmith has been an educator for 14 years and has been at iFlagler for three years.
She's helped implement the district’s Grad 100 credit recovery program, which helps students who are risk of failing a course get caught up. Since implementation, the graduation rate has improved: It was 81% in the 2016–2017 school year, and rose to 88% the following year and 92.3% in 2019-2020.
“I spend time with each student, helping them understand what they're learning, answering questions about their current progress, starting additional courses, and listening intently when they feel distressed,” she wrote. “I also encourage students, reminding them weekly that they can do this and will graduate.”
She also initiated iFlagler’s dual enrollment program tp help students start an academic or vocational program while in high school.
“I advocated for this program because our oFlagler students are also part of Flagler County and need to have the same opportunities that all students have in the brick-and-mortar schools,” she wrote. “College and career readiness is important for secondary students to learn, and dual enrollment opens up that opportunity.”
She organizes the program, educates teachers about it and sets up informational meetings with students and families.
“I was excited to have students participate in this program and see the positive impact it had on them academically, socially and emotionally,” she wrote. “Watching this impact that I helped create is part of my inspiration to keep this program going through the years.”
Counseling students is Brocksmith’s way of making a mark on the world, she wrote.
“As a school counselor, I believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and it is up to me to help them get there,” she wrote. “Whether a student needs academic counseling or emotional counseling, I support them through their emotional distress or academic bump. I teach my students to inspire themselves and others to leave a legacy in any area of their lives.”
